Principal Denise Horley and DP Robyn McDougall-Winchester from Sandspit School in Waiuku explain how they use assessment data with their aakonga to enable them to be the drivers of their own learning. This sharing of assessment data is used to build clarity and agency for students. They explain how they employ assessment for learning best practices from Clarity in the Classroom, Visible Learning. effect size analysis and NZAI webinars.
Their message is that when they, the teachers, are assessment capable, and when they are clear with students about what they are learning and why they are learning it then they can get accelerated learning. And when students learn to be assessment capable and know what their data is telling them, they are empowered to set their own goals, identify their next learning steps and talk clearly about their learning. That’s when magic happens!
Denise started her teaching journey in 1993 in England where she taught students between the ages of 3 and 11 years. She was in various leadership roles including Deputy Head Teacher, Inclusion Co-ordinator, SENCo and International Schools Co-ordinator. On moving to NZ she returned to the classroom full-time, was an in-school facilitator for assessment for learning and Visible Learning. Denise has a passion for student agency and using data to practice to accelerate progress.
Robyn has been teaching and leading for many years, beginning in the early 1980s, taking time off to raise a family and returning in the mid 90s. Having experience in all levels for New Entrants to Year 8, she has seen many changes in educations trends and philosophies, government requirements and mandates and a changing society. Robyn has lead many teams including Junior, Senior, and Curriculum with a strength in literacy and AFOL. A strong believer that both teachers and students need to be assessment literate and that the purpose of assessment underpins students learning needs.
Find Denise and Robyn’s presentation slides here: Denise Horley A Journey To Clarity NZAI 2025
